Richard Everett Shot By San Francisco Police Officers Following Standoff on Tenderloin Street

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA (September 9, 2023) – A man identified as Richard Everett was seriously injured in a San Francisco police shooting along Tenderloin Street.

San Francisco police officials are saying that the incident began on August 28th at night. Police arrived at the scene after getting a report about a man with a large knife.

Multiple officers arrived and located Richard Everett. A video of the incident shows officers talking with the suspect before opening fire as he moved forward.

Paramedics were called to the scene and began life-saving measures. Richard Everett was taken to the hospital in order to recover. He is now facing several criminal charges after the encounter.

A full investigation into the use-of-force encounter remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For San Francisco Police Shootings

California has one of the highest instances of police shootings. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “About 195 people die each year from interactions with California law enforcement. Gunshots are by far the most common cause of death: nearly 250 people are shot by police each year.” A disproportionate number of police shootings involve suspects that are in the midst of a mental health crisis. There are many steps that police officers should take in order to avoid hurting a mentally ill suspect.

• Officers must request backup.
• Officers must do their best to calm the situation.
• Officers should avoid physical contact with the suspect.
• Officers should seek to determine if the suspect is taking medication.
• Officers should do their best to acknowledge the suspect’s feelings.
• Officers should avoid making any threats.

Police officer’s must do everything in their power to avoid harming suspects. To that ends, officers must always use the least amount of force necessary. In particular, there are guidelines that police officers must follow if they encounter a suspect in the midst of a mental health crisis. If a police officer fails to follow a safety rule promulgated by their employer, this could create the basis of a civil claim. Consider, for example, People v. Brown, 245 Cal. App. 4th 140, 171 (Ct. App. 2016). Victims of police shootings tend to suffer very serious injuries including:

• Organ damage
• Broken bones
• Brain injuries
• Nerve damage
• PTSD

Many police shootings are due to police departments that fail to properly train their officers. It can be hard to know where to begin after any police shooting. But it is important that victims of excessive force understand that they do have rights. Any person that is injured in a police shooting may be able to seek some measure of justice through a constitutional claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

 

Getting Legal Help After San Francisco Police Shootings

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our best wishes to Richard Everett as he continues to recover. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the victim. In far too many situations, people who are in desperate need of help are met with deadly force.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed due to the excessive force of San Francisco police officers? There are many laws designed to help you. Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to assist you. We are committed to getting victims of police brutality the justice and compensation that they deserve. Whether you have legal questions or need any type of support we may be able to help. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.